Sonia Eyes Youth Vote With Employment Scheme

Sonia Gandhi yesterday said the Congress would ensure that youth engaged themselves in nation-building activities, like adult literacy and family management, for at least one year after their graduation. This is part of Congress desh ke liye ek saal scheme, that it promises to launch if it comes to power. Addressing an election meeting here, Sonia Gandhi also promised a new credit programme for self-employed women and special security for female children. She reiterated her partys commitment to reservation of one-third seats in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and vidhan sabhas for women. She promised a special package to farmers growing cash crops like cotton, tobacco and oilseeds. She promised good seeds, adequate irrigation water, power supply and remunerative price for the produce. She said agro industries would be given a thrust to help the rural economy and the farming community.

 

Sonia Gandhi spoke of communal parties that tried to divide the country and said these forces had been responsible for killing Mahatma Gandhi. She said they were talking in softer tone but the nation should beware of them because their ideology remained the same.

She asked the people to decide between a government that unites the country and rules and the one that divides and rules.

The choice is simple and before you, she added.

This was Sonia Gandhis first rally in rural parts of Andhra Pradesh. Last month, she had addressed a rally in Hyderabad, the third since she kicked off the Congress campaign from Sri Perumbadur.

In the second round in Andhra Pradesh, Sonia Gandhi will go to Guntur and then to Visakhapatnam. She is also likely to address meetings in Telangana, including Medak, one-time constituency of Indira Gandhi.

The Congress has fielded former Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president and Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao from this constituency in a triangular contest, with CPI and BJP candidates.